Connecter for attaching electric cables or conduits to outlet boxes and the like



Aug. 27, 1929. c, RECKER 1,725,883

a GONNEGTER FOR ATTACHING ELECTRIC CABLES on CONDUITS TO OUTLET BOXES AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 10, 1928 Patented Aug. 27, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFliZE.

LDOLPE C. BECKER, OF OAKVILLE; CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR T CHASE COMPANIES INQ, 0]! WATERBURY, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION.

connnc'rnn ron ATTAGHING nnnc'rnrc CABLES on connorrs ro OUTLET nexus AND THE LIKE.

Application filed February 10, 1928. Serial No. 253,497.

This invention relates to an improvement lid all

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articularly to connecters for attaching lielicallywound flexible metallic cables or conduits to outlet-boxes and the like.

The object of this invention is to produce,

at a low cost for manufacture, a simple and convenient connector of the class described, constructed with particular reference to security inuse and ease of installation.

With this object in view, my invention consists in a eonnecter for attaching electric cables or conduits to outlet-boxes and the like, characterized in its preferred formby its proviSion with a socket for the reception of one end of a cable or conduit; means for holding the said cable or conduit in the said socket; a stop for engaging the outer face of he wall of an outlet-box adjacent an opening therein; and one or more spring retaining fingers for engaging the inner face ofthe sai wall, adjacent the opening therein, and sloping outward and toward the said stop; whereby the said spring retainingfingers will first yield to permit the passage of the forward end of the connector through the said opening and then automatically spring outward to engage the inner face of the side-wall "to couple the said connector and cable to the outlet-box.

My invention further consists in a connecten characterized as above and having the cable or conduit-receiving socket thereof provided internally with threads or threadsegments for interengaging with the helical grooves of flexiblev metallic cables or conduits to hold the same in place in the said soclret.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fi 1 is a to or plan view of an outletloox s owing a exible metallic cable or conduit attached thereto by means of my improved connector;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged scale view in vertical section on the line 2-2 of Fi 1;

Fig. 3 is a rear end view of my improved connector detached.

Fi 4a is a view looking toward the ion ward end thereof; and

Fig. l";- is a sectional view thereoi on. the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

In the type of connector herein chosen for the illustration of my invention, I employ a tubular sheet-metal thimble or socket-member formed at its forward end with an inwardly-turned annular bead-like guardflange 11 substantially semicircular in crosssection, and at its rear end with a flange 12 outwardly-turned at a right angle with re spect to its tubular body-portion. The interior of the tubular body-portion of the said socket-member 10 is provided. with an inwardly-projecting thread-like helical 'rib 13 adapted to fit into the helical groove 14 of a flexible metallic cable or conduit 15 of ordinary and well-known characteristics.

Imposed upon the socket-member 10 just above described is a tubular shell-member 16 formed of sheet-metal and having its forward end turned inward at a right angle to form a transverse wall 17 terminating in a short annular skirt 18 snugly fitting the exterior of the socket-member 10 aforesaid, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 5. The rear end of the said shell 16 is turned radially outward at a right angle to form an annular stop-shoulder 19 adapted to engage the outer face of the side-wall 20 of an outlet-box 21 of ordinary form, adjacent the usual opening 22 therein. Theanetal of the outer end of the shoulder 19 is bent rearwardly and radially inward as at 23 over the outwardlyturned flange 12 of the soclnatineniber 10 to clamp the same against the said shoulder and thus firmly unite the socket-member 10 and the shell 16 into a unitary structure.

For the purpose-of retaining the socketand shell-members as a unit in the opening 22 of the outlet-box 20 against axial rearward displacement, I strike outward from the said shell-memher, at equidistant points thereon, three corresponding rearwardly and outwardly-inclined 5 ring retaining-fingers 24, which are adapte at their free rear ends to engage the inner face of the wall 90 of the outlet-box 21 adjacent the opening 22 therein.

In the use of my improved connector, the same is referably first secured upon the end of the erible metallic cable or conduit 15 by turning it thereon to engage its threadlike helical ribs 13 with the helical groove 14 of the said cable or conduit and until the end of the latter has been brought into on gagement with the bead-like guard flange 11 inturned from the forward end of the serves to revent inward movement in the opposlte irection of the connecter and cable. 7

' stated, is of ordinary and forms a protection for electric conductors 25, more or less in number, which may 'be permanently installed therein, as is some- The flexible cable or conduit 15, as before and well-known form times the ractice, or formed independently and thre" ed therethrough. In either event,

the inwardly-turned bead-like guard-flange- 11 of the socket-member 10 forms a stop to position-the end ofthe conduit in the said socket and also forms a rounded guard to ably and as s 7 member 16 on three of their sides, but it is.

prevent the rough edges of the conduit from abraiding the insulation of the conductors 25. The sprin retaining-fingers 24, preferown, are out free of the shellobvious, without further illustration, that it is unnecessary that they be so cut in order tomeasurably' perform their function. v

I claim: 1. A connecter for attaching electric cables or conduits to outlet-boxes and the like, 5

comprising a tubular sheet-metalv socketmember provided with a socket for the reception of the end of a cable or conduit and wlth means pro'ecting inwardly into the said socket for olding the samein place therein; a tubular sheet-metal shell-member imposed over the vsaid socket-member and having a stop for engaging the outer face. of the wall of an outlet-box adjacent an:

opening therein; and one or more spring retainlng-fingers struck outward from the,

said shell-member for engaging the inner face of the said wall adjacent the opening' therein and sloping outward and toward the said stop; whereby the said spring retainingfingers will first yield to permit the passage of the forward end of the connecter through the said opening and then automatically spring outward to engage the inner face of the side-wall to couple the said connecter and cable to the outlet box.

2. A connecter for attachingelectric cables or conduits to outlet-boxes and the like, coma prising a socket-member provided with a socket for the reception of the end of a cable or conduit and with a helical rib for holding the same in place therein; a shell-member imposed over the said socket-member and having a stop for engagin the outer face of the wall of an outlet-Eox adjacent an opening therein; and one or more spring re- -tainin -fingers struck outward from the said shell-member for engaging the inner face of the said wall adjacent the opening therein and sloping outward and toward the said stop; whereby the said spring retaining-finers will first yield to permit the passage of t e forward end of the connector through the i said opening and then automatically spring outward to engage the inner face of the sidewall to couple the said connecter and cable to the outlet-box. I

3. A connecter for attaching electric cables or conduits to outlet-boxes and the like, comprisi'n a tubular sheet-metal socket-member provi ed with a socket for the reception of the end of a cable or conduit, means pro jecting inwardly into the said socket for holding the same in place therein, and a guard-flange for positioning'the sald cable or conduit and preventing the abrasion of conductors passing .therethrough; a tubular sheet-metal shell-member imposed over the said socket-member and having a stop for engaging the outer face of the wall of an outlet-box adjacent an opening therein; and.

one or more spring retalning-fin ers struck outward from the said shell-mom er for en gagingk the inner face of the said wall adja cent t e opeuin therein and slopin outward and tower the said stop; where y the said spring retaining-fingers will first yield to permit the passage of' the forward end of the connecter through the said opening and then automatically s ring outward to engage the inner face 0 the side-wall to couple the said connecter and cable to the outlet-bola 4. A connecter for attaching electric cables "or conduits to outlet-boxes and the like, comprisin a tubular sheet-metal socket-member provi ed with a socket for the. rece tion of the end of a, conduit or cable and wit means projecting inwardjiy into the said socket for engaging and hol i therein; a tubular sheet-metal shell-member sleeved over the said socket-member and havin resilient projections struck outward theref rom for engaging the inner face of the wall of an outlet-box adjacent an opening therein.

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification.

ADOLPH O. BECKER.

ng the conduit in place 

